Justin Timberlake's halftime performance at the Super Bowl featured a giant projection of the late pop star, Prince. Photo / AP
Justin Timberlake's halftime performance at the Super Bowl featured a giant projection of the late pop star, Prince. Photo / AP
Justin Timberlake performed an energetic, hit-filled halftime show at today's Super Bowl — but it was his tribute to late music icon Prince that left fans divided.
Rumours had surfaced over the weekend that Timberlake was planning to perform alongside a hologram of the singer, who died almost two yearsago. Those reports prompted emotional protests from those close to Prince including his sister and musical collaborator Sheila E, who said she personally called Timberlake to confirm he would not be using a hologram.
Prince himself had vowed in an interview before his death that his likeness would never be used in a hologram after his passing, describing it as "the most demonic thing imaginable".
Mercifully, there was also no sign of the hologram — but Timberlake went with the next best thing, "duetting" with Prince on the classic hit I Would Die 4 U as a giant projection of the singer appeared on a sheet hung in the middle of the stadium.
One of #Prince’s biggest fears as an artist, was his music being misappropriated. It’s why he was so crazy about owning his masters and even gave up his name. This culture-vulture can kick rocks! #SuperBowlLII
Timberlake certainly crammed a lot into his 12-minute performance, opening with current single Filthy, the lead single from his new album, in a makeshift club setting underneath the Super Bowl stadium.
Rock Your Body followed, Timberlake and dancers strutting on a purpose-built catwalk across the audience and on to the field.
Hits including Sexyback, My Love and Cry Me A River followed, before Timberlake's own Prince-aping ballad The End Of Time morphed into the aforementioned Prince tribute.
Justin Timberlake performed many of his hits, including Sexy Back and Can't Stop the Feeling. Photo / AP
Next it was stately ballad Mirrors before ending with — what else — his ubiquitous Trolls theme song Can't Stop the Feeling.
Timberlake's newly released fifth solo album Man of the Woods has copped a savaging from critics, with several of its tracks released in quick succession failing to set the charts alight.
Earlier, music icon Janet Jackson flatly rejected rumours she would join Timberlake on stage during the performance for a "do-over" of their infamous 2004 Super Bowl duet.
"To put to rest any speculation or rumours as to whether I will be performing at the Super Bowl tomorrow; I will not," she tweeted.
